36 Plasma Tv

Plasma flat-panel widescreen monitor and 36[inches] direct-view set with multiple inputs for computer and A/V sources are among 4th-quarter ProScan introductions to be unveiled this week at CES in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, on eve of show, company released further details of 61W rear-projection DTV set jointly produced with Hitachi (TVD Dec 15/97 p12).

Widescreen 42[inches] plasma display has 853x480 pixel resolution and is progressive scan by definition, making it suitable for standard-definition DTV or SVGA computer graphics. Panel is sourced from NEC, said Michael Shulz, Thomson gen. mgr.-TV product planning, and monitor has been in collaborative development 10 months, with Indianapolis-based engineer Foy Wilkie managing project at Thomson's Vilingen, Germany facility. Assembly will be in Japan by NEC and companies will market monitor separately, Shulz said, saying NEC doesn't sell consumer video In U.S. Thomson affiliate Thomson-CSF has developed own 25[inches] plasma panel for defense and industrial markets product shown at Berlin Internationale Funkausstellung last Aug.

Upcoming Model PSP4200W can be wall or table mounted or furniture framed as console. It has 300:1 contrast ratio and 3D-Y/C digital frame comb-filter, Shulz said, runs on universal voltages and performs multiscanning for NTSC, PAL or SECAM formats. On-screen menu is preprogrammed for 8 languages. Although display is monitor only and lacks tuner or loudspeaker, it has 14-w amplifier for simple external speaker hookup. For external source units, inputs Include component video, S- and composite video, VGA for computers.

Thomson will offer plasma monitor late next year at price to be determined, Shulz said, citing target markets for first-adopter home theater buffs, corporate presentation customers, public display. He told us launch date depends to some extent on UL testing schedule for new category and because work remains to be done on system's noise reduction, specifically its fans. Plasma display generates relatively high heat owing to combination of shallow (4[inches]) cabinet and high-voltage switching that excites xenon-neon gas to illuminate phosphors. Thomson won't pursue plasma-addressed LCD for time being, he said.

Although executives said Thomson won't do much more with RCA/Compaq PC Theatre project, company independently will address convergence market with family of Multimedia Monitors under ProScan label. First on deck is 36" PS36800 for 3rd-quarter delivery. Executives wouldn't give price, but one said it would go for about same as Thomson's earlier 34W set, which sold for about $4,000.

CRT for product is Thomson-made Digital Precision data-grade tube with 0.78mm dot pitch. Engineers said pitch gives "good balance" of light output for NTSC and standard-definition DTV with resolution needed for SVGA computer image. They said electron gun has tighter focus than in 0.78mm pitch tube used for PC Theatre. Besides 1-H interlaced scanning for NTSC, multiscan capability includes progressive 2H and 2.4H for 640x480-pixel VGA and 800x600 SVGA, respectively.

Although product is called "monitor," it's functioning TV receiver, with 2-tuner PIP, 20-w amplifier and stereo loudspeakers built in. Plethora of inputs includes one YUV-type for component video; 2 USB and VGA connectors; multiple S- and composite video jacks. DDC2B "plug and play" connectors for PC sources are auto-detecting - enabling PC to set correct display characteristics for monitor. They include overscan/underscan and color temperature.

Early ProScan press materials said 32[inches] version would be part of 800 Series, but in briefing session Thomson executives contradicted that, telling us company more likely would follow 36[inches] model with widescreen CRT. Multimedia monitors will be marketed through ProScan accounts and, possibly, some PC stores in "key alliances," they said. Exec. Vp-COO James Meyer left open possibility of cooperative agreement with Compaq to market monitors through PC retail channels.

So-far-undisclosed aspect of prototype 61W rear-projection DTV jointly produced by Hitachi and Thomson is NRSS Type A conditional-access module. Thomson engineer Edward Milbourn said that's being considered so that broadcasters could add encryption for multicast SD programs offered as pay-per-view. Module is similar to that in DSS receivers, Milbourn told us, except that DTV version performs all decoding and descrambling functions on single card, while DSS has smart card for conditional access and performs decryption in receiver. Like DSS box, prototype DTV has 2400 baud telephone modem for communicating transactions to bookkeeping server. Industry has yet to work out standards for PPV transaction clearinghouse.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Warren Publishing, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group

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